ProblemToo many communities throughout North Carolina are designed primarily for vehicular access with little regard for non-motorized modes of transportation.

BackgroundThe development of comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle transportation plans is an integral part of creating communities that provide multimodal access. Many communities in North Carolina do not have such transportation plans nor the staff or financial resources to create high-quality plans.

SolutionTo respond to the need for staff and financial resources when creating comprehensive transportation plans, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) created the Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. The Initiative provided technical assistance through the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) and funds from several sources including:

North Carolina General Assembly budget allocations

Federal planning funds

NCDOT Transportation Planning Brach funds

The program also developed an administrative process for reviewing applications by municipalities and for distributing funds to the appropriate municipalities.

ResultsThe program secured $750,000 to fund the development of municipal pedestrian and bicycle plans over a two-year period, $350,000 from the NC General Assembly, and the remainder from NCDOT planning funds. The Initiative also established federal, state, local, and university partnerships to develop and implement the program. More than 100 municipalities in North Carolina expressed interest in the Initiative. The positive responses helped the program meet or exceed the different objectives.